Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 32 on 13/04/2007.

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A clan of impeccable pedigree (Clan Macpherson)

James Irvine Robertson looks at the history of the Clan Macpherson

Are there national characteristics?

Certainly Sassenachs (English or Lowland Scots) used to think that Highlanders were different from themselves and one of those differences was that the Teuchter (Highland Scot) was always droning on about his ancestors.

The main reason for this perception was that it was true. Genealogy was one of the foundation stones of the old Gaelic culture.

It fitted you into the ancient communities and allowed others to know your niche.

Use Gaelic to ask where someone comes from and the literal meaning is subtly different. It is where you belong and is as much about pedigree as it is about place.

Clans, of course, have pedigree at their heart. The Uberancestor of the clans of the central Highlands was Gillichattan Mor – the Big Servant of St Katan. From his four sons came the progenitors of the families, which make up the 16 clans of the Clan Chattan Federation. The youngest was Muriach the parson at Kingussie in the mid 12th century (1153), and the name Macpherson means “son of the Parson.” Such clerics married, had progeny and often managed to place their sons in lands that belonged to the Church. Muriach was no exception.

In many clans the line of the Chief towered above the rest of the kindred in wealth and power. Often such chiefs were ennobled and became national figures remote from their clansfolk. But rather than one pre-eminent line, Clan Muirich had three great branches descending from the three grandsons of the founder.

Again, in man.....

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By James Irvine Robertson

Section : Scottish Clans

Page number : 58